Voting-machine.



No. 630,I48. Patented Aug. I, |899. J. B. WEIGAND.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 80, 1898. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

*mi wams arcas co. Pno'ro-umo msnwmon, D. c

No. 630,|48. Patented Aug. I, |899.

J. B. WEIGAND.

voTmG nAcHINE.

(Application led Bsph 30, 1898.)

(No Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'mr Nonms PETER: co,. How-mmc., wAsmNmoN u c UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

.IOIIN B. lVEIG-AND, OF ATHENS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO FERDINAND A. STRUIP, OF SAME PLACE.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part er Letters Patent No. 630,148, eared August 1, 1,899. Application filed September S0, 1898. Serial No. 692,297. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom, it may concern: The particular construction of myimproved Beitknown thatLJOHNBVEIG-AND@ citi voting-machine attains the above objects by zen ofthe United States of America, residing positive operations ofthe several mechanisms at A tliens,in the countyof Marathon and State and auxiliary devices, not only insuring an 5 of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and accurate count or register of each individual useful Improvements in Voting-Machines; and combination Votes, but also4 surely preand I do hereby declare the following to be a vents a voter registering more than a single full, clear, and exact description of the invenvote for any one candidate or tampering with tion, such as will enable others skilled in the the machine inv anyway. 6'o xo art to which it appertains to make and use The following specification enters into a the same. detail description of my invention, reference This invention is an improvement in votbeing had to the accompanying drawings, and ing-machines, the object of said invention to letters thereon, which designate the dierbeing to provide a machine of this character ent parts orinstrumentalities, and what Iconr 5 which shall be simple andv compact in consider to be novel in particular features and struction and will accurately register each combinations is more specifically set forth in vote, recording the number of votes cast for the appended claims. each and every candidate, so that the totals Referring to the annexed drawings, which can be quickly and conveniently ascertained. form a part of the specification, Figure l is 7o zo The invention contemplates a construction a front perspective view of a voting-machine and arrangement of parts by which a separate constructed in accordance with my invention. registering mechanism is provided for each Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, candidate for any and all oiiices to be voted with the hinged back swung open to deposit for and includes certain locking devices by the tally-sheet into the lower compartment 25 which the several registering mechanisms reof the cabinet. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail lating to any particular othce are securely view of one of the drawers of the cabinet, locked upon the operation of any one in regshowing two sets of registering mechanisms, istering a single vote for that office, the said including the devices for locking the pushlocking devices being released by depressing rods. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4l d 8o 3o a lever at one side of the machine or cabinet, of Fin". 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the while the total votes or tallies which appear line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional view through sight-openings in the front of the on the line 6 G of Fig. 3. Fig. v'7 isa sectional cabinet are normally covered by slides locked View on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a dein place. tail view illustrating one of the slides which The invention further provides for voting cover the sighteopenings in the front ofthe what is termed a straight ticket by the cabinet. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of theoperation of a single push-rod, which actuates side pieces of the cabinet and illustrating the the registering mechanism for every candislide which releases thelocking devices. Fig.` date included in such ticket and also actuates 10 is an enlarged detail View of one of the rock- 9o 4o locking devices coacting with the separate shafts in section, showing the shape of said locking devices to prevent a repeating of the shaft at the point where the Hat-spring envote either for the straight ticket or for an gages. individual candidate. In carrying out my invention I construct a The invention furthermore provides for cabinet the lower part of which forms a 5 making a record of any particular vote upon closed compartment A, above which the side a tally-sheet for the purpose of challenging pieces a aX extend and are connected at their said vote, the mechanism by which this is acupper ends by a top board ct'. Adjoining one complished being independent of and remote of the side pieces of the cabinet is a vertical from the registering mechanisms, so as not to partition a2, and between this partition and loo 5o interfere in any manner with the proper opthe opposite side piece GLX is a vertical series eration otf the latter. of horizontal partition -boards as, forming drawer-compartments extending the entire width between said partition and side piece. The backboard A' of the cabinet proper is hinged to the upper part of the closed compartment A for the purpose hereinafter explained.

YVithin the drawer-conipartments are located drawers B, which are divided by partitions I) into a number of small compartments, each compartment containing a set of registering mechanisms and locking devices, separated by a transverse partition b', and as said registering mechanisms and locking devices are identically the same in the compartments of each and every drawer a description of those in one compartment will apply to all. Therefore, referring more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, C designates a transverse shaft which is journaled at its ends in blocks c, and upon this shaft is keyed a ratchetwheel C and gear-wheel C2, the latter meshing with a corresponding gear-wheel d, loosely mounted on a transverse shaft D and fast to a digit-wheel or drum D', having a peripheral series of numerals running from O to 9 and representing units of the register. Also made fast to the shaft C is a disk C3, having a single projecting tooth c3, which is adapted to turn a toothed wheel d, loosely mounted on the shaftD and fast to a digit-wheel D, representingtens, said digit-wheel carrying a gearwheel cl2, meshing with a gear-wheel C4, connected to a disk C5, having a tooth ci", adapted to turn a toothed wheel (Z3, attached to a digitwheel D3, representing hundreds. The digitwheel D carries a gear-wheel di, in mesh with a gear-wheel C6, loose on the shaft C and fast 'to a disk CT, with a tooth cito turn a toothed wheel (Z5, carrying a digit-wheel D4, representing thousands. It will be understood that the toothed wheels carrying the digit-wheels each have ten teeth, and by gearing said digitwheels to the d isks having a tooth adapted to engage the toothed wheels of the next digitwheels the digit-wheels are turned progress ively by the turning of the first gear-wheel C2, which may be and is operated by the ratchet-wheel C', both being fast to the shaft C and the only wheels that are fast to said shaft. In order to prevent accidental movement of the digit-wheels, the toothed wheels thereof are engaged frictionally by a springpawl or dog (ZX, Fig. a. The numerals on the digit-wheels appear through sight-openings bx in the front of the drawers, and in setting said mechanism the zero-mark of each digitwheel is brought on a line with said sightopenings. Thesesight-openingsare normally covered by slides E, iitting in dovetailed rccesses in the inner side of the front of the drawers and locked in place at one side of the cabinet.

The registering mechanisms hereinbefore described are operated by independent pushrods F, which are passed through the front ofthe drawers and through the transverse partitions b', being provided at their outer ends with a button F', said push-rods overlying the ratchet-wheels C'. Above the ratchet-wheels the push-rods are slotted to receive a gravitypawl f, which engages said ratchet-wheels and turns them the extent of one tooth upon each operation of said push-rods. The push-rods are projected to their normal position by means of a helical spring f, bearing against the partition b' and a bend in the rod, Fig. 5, while backward rotation of the ratchetwheel C is prevented by a spring-pawl f2. The rear end of the push-rod extends into the rear compartment of the drawer and is engaged by a locking device that engages a notch f3 in said rod.

It will be here noted that the registering mechanisms of each drawer all record votes for a particular office and are operated independently, the offices being designated in a vertical column at one side of the cabinet, (see Fig. 1,) while the names of the candidates for the oiiices are arranged on a hori- Zontal line therewith, the push-buttons being conveniently located at one side of the names. The candidates are also disposed so as t0 be in vertical columns below headings indicatiing the political parties to which the candidates belong. Now in order to lock all the registering mechanisms referring to a particular oilice upon the operation of any one thereof a tumbling-rod G extends across the rear part of each drawer through the partitions b and is provided with upwardly-projecting pins g, engaged by outwardly-projecting pinsf on the push-rods, the said tumbling-rod having rearwardly-projecting iingers g engagingangle-slots hin pivoted plates H and adapted to turn said plates into engagement with the notches]f3 in the push-rods. The plates H are held in locked engagement with the p ush-rods by plate-springs Lattached to the rear wall of the drawers and bearing upon the tumbling-rods, the latter being flattened, as shown in Fig. l0, to increase the frictional engagement. Though all the locking-plates of any one drawer are brought into engagement with their push-rods upon the operation of any one push-rod of that drawer, the said operated push-rod is not engaged until it returns to its normal position, the locking-plate bearing against the side of the rod until it is in position for said plate to enter the notch, and to this end the fingers g are of spring metal to possess the required resiliency. The locking-plates are released by a slide J, positioned in a dovetailed recess in the side piece (LX of the cabinet, Fig. 3, and provided with projecting pins j, adapted to engage pins g2, projecting from the tumblingrod G at right angles to the aforesaid pins, the slide J being operated by a lever JQ pivoted to the cabinet and connected to said slide by a pin j, working in a slot in the side piece of the cabinet.

Having thus described the mechanisms and manner of registering votes for the several offices separately, I shall now proceed to de- IOO IIO

scribe devices by which l provide for voting a straight ticket, through the intervention of which all the registering mechanisms for the candidates of any political party can be operated by pushing in a single push-rod. To this end rods K extend vertically through the cabinet proper, one for each vertical series of registering mechanisms, Figs. 2 and d, and extending from said rods are, plate springs or pawls k, which engage ratchet-wheels L on the transverse shafts C of the registering mechanisms, said ratchet-wheels being similar to the ratchet wheels C and are also keyed to the shaft, being engaged frictionally by spring-pawls Z. The vertical rods 7n are operated by push-rods M, having button M, and for this purpose the said push-rod is provided with opposite cams m on, engaging the upper and lower walls ot' la slot in the rod K. The operation of the push-rod acts to depress the rod K, andl the pawls 7c, carried by said rod, turn the ratchet-wheels L and actuate the registering mechanisms in the same manner as the pawls C. The push-rods for operating the rods K are located at the head of the political columns, as shown in Fig. l, and when one is pushed in it operates all the registering mechanisms below, as hereinbefore stated.

In order to lock all of the registering mechanisms upon the operation of any one of the push-rods indicating a straight ticket, and thereby prevent a voter from registering a Vote for any individual candidate after voting a straight ticket, the operation of any one of the vertical rods K is made to rock all the tumbling-shafts G and lock all of the push-rods. To the accomplishment of this, each drawer B is provided with a transverse tumbling-rod N, having a long arm n, engaged bya pin 7d, projecting from the rod K, and a short arm n', engaging a bent arm g3, extending from the tumbling-rod G, the said short arm working in a slot in the partition 1). It will be seen, therefore, that upon a depression of any one of the rods K the tumbling-rods G will all be rocked and actuate all of the locking devices.

To provide for making a record ot' any vote for the purpose ot challenging said vote, the rear ends of the push-rods are provided with pins o, which extend through perforations in the rear walls of the drawers and are adapted to punch through a tally-sheet, (designated by the letter 1),) which is placed against the rear ends of the drawers, being held in place by the hinged backboard A'. The backboard is provided with recesses on aline with the pins o, into which said pins pass after piercing the tally-sheet, and in order to move the tallysheet away from the backboard when the latter is swung open a spring-projected wire frame R is hinged at its lower end to the inner side of said board and is connected at its upper end to helical springs r. The tallysheets are deposited into the lower compartment of the cabinet through a slit s. It will be understood, of course, that the tally-sheets are provided with spaces and names corre-. spending with those on the front of the cabinet, so 'that the perforation or perforations in said tally-sheet will denote for which candidates or combination of candidates the voter Voted, the name ot the voter being written on the tally-sheet before it is inserted in the machine.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction and operation of my improved voting-machine will be readily understood, for supposing a voter wishes to register a straight Democratic vote the button M at the head of the iirst political column to the left is pushed in, which will depress the corresponding rod K, and thereby actuate the registering mechanisms for all the candidates in that column, the said rod K also operating the locking devices,and when the push-rod is released its locking-plate will enter the notch in said rod and also lock it against movement. After the voter has left the booth the ballotclerk depresses the lever J', which releases the locking devices, and the machine is then set or ready for another voter. Should the next voter desire to register a split ticket,the operation of cach push-rod independently will lock only the registering mechanisms in the horizontal series or drawer in which said pushrod is located, and it will be noted that after one of the push-rods for an individual candidate is operated the push-rods for straight tickets become inoperative; also, that should an attempt be made to cheat the machine by simultaneously pushing in a button for a straight ticket and one for an individual candidate it would resultin the said candidate receiving but one vote, the operating-shaft of the registering mechanism for that candidate being then operated the extent of only one tooth by both the ratchet-wheels C and L. After the closing of a ballotthe slides E are unlocked and withdrawn, when the total number of votes cast for each and every candidate will appear through the sight-openings in the front of the cabinet, and as the act of voting a straight ticket registers one vote for each individual candidate on said ticket there is no Afiguring required.

The machine is com pact and the entire mechanism is adjusted and arranged to work smoothly and easily in order that an accurate account of each and every vote may be correctly registered. It will also be observed. that the parts are not liable to get out of rorder and that a positive movementis imparted upon each operation of a push-rod.

To reset the registering mechanisms, the drawers are withdrawn, and after releasing the pawls which engage the ratchet-wheels C and L the digit-wheels can be turned by hand until they are in properposition, with the Zeromarks appearing through the sight-openings.' Though the registering mechanisms are shown as registering only to nine thousand nine h unlOO IIO

dred and ninety-nine, it is apparent that the capacity could be increased by adding more Wheels.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms and rods operating the same, of locking devices for the rods comprising pivoted plates adapted to engage said rods, a tumbling-shaft actuated by the rods, and means operating the pivoted plates from the tumbling-shaft, substantially as shown and for the purpose set fort-h.

2. In a votingmachine, the combination with the registering mechanisms and rods operating the same, of locking devices for the rods comprising pivoted plates adapted to engage said rods and provided with angle-slots, a tumbling-shaft actuated by the rods, and spring-fingers projecting from the tumblingshaft into the angle-slots of the pi voted plates, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In a votingmachine, the combination with the registering mechanisms and rods operating the same, of locking devices for the rods comprising pivoted plates adapted to engage said rods, a tumbling-shaft actuated by the rods, means operating the pivoted plates from the tumbling-shaft, and plate-springs bearing upon said tumbling-shaft, the latter being flattened Where the plate-springs engage, substantialljf'as shown and forrhe purpose set forth.

et. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms and rods operating the same, the latter having outwardly-projecting pins and notches near their rear ends, of locking devices for the rods comprising pivoted plates adapted to engage the notches in said rods, a tumbling-shaft having pins engaged by the pins of the operating rods, and spring-fingers projecting from the tumbling-shaft into angle-slots in the pivoted plates; together with plate-springs bearin g upon the tumbling-shaft, the latter being fiattened Where the plate-springs engage, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms and rods operating the same, of locking devices for the rods comprising pivoted plates adapted to engage said rods, a tumbling-shaft connected to the plates and operated by the rods, said tumbling-shaft havingan ontWardiy-projecting pin at one end, a slide having a pin engaging the pin of the tumbling-shaft, and means for operating said slide, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms and rods operating the same, said registering mechanv isms being arranged in horizontal series; of

locking devices for the operating-rods comprising pivoted plates adapted to engage said econ-1e rods and provided with an gie-slots, tumblingshafts actuated by the operating-rods, springiingers projecting from the tumbling-shafts into the angle-slots of the pivoted plates, and pins projecting from one end of the tumblingshafts; together with a slide having projecting pins adapted to engage the pins of the tumbling-shafts, and means for operati'ngsaid slide, substantiallyas shown and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a votingmachine, the combination. with the registering mechanisms comprising in part an operating-shaft having a ratchet- Wheel keyed thereon, independent operatingrods for said mechanisms, vertical rods having pawls engaging the ratchet-wheels of the registering mechanisms in vertical series, and means for operating said vertical rods; together with pivoted plates adapted to engage the operating-rods, and devices preventing the operation of said plates yupon the operation of any one of the vertical rods, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms arranged in vertical and horizontal series, of independent operating-rods for the registering mechanisms, rods operating the registering mechanisms of each vertical series, pivoted plates adapted to engage the independent operatingrods, tumbling-shafts extending across the machine adjacent each horizontal series of independent operating-rods, means connecting the tumbling-shafts to the pivoted plates; said tumbling-shafts being operated either independently by the independent operating-rods or collectively by the vertical rods, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a votingmachine, the combination with the registering mechanisms arranged in vertical and horizontal series, of independent operating-rods for the registering mechanisms, rods operating the registering mechanisms of each vertical series, pivoted plates adapted lo engage theindependent operatingrods and provided with angle-slots, tumblingshafts extending across the machine adjacent each horizontal series of independent operating-rods, spring-fingers projecting from the tumbling-shafts into the angle-slots of the pivoted plates said tumbling-shafts being operated either independently by the independent operating-rods or collectively by the vertical rods; together with a slide engaging the tumbling-shafts to bring them to their normal position, and means for operating said slide, substantially as shown and for the purpose Set forth.

l0. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms arranged in vertical and horizontal series, of independent operating-rods for the registering mechanisms, rods operating the registering mechanisms of each vertical series, operating-rods for said vertical rods, pivoted plates adapted to engage the operating-rods and provided with an gle-slots, tum bling-sh afts' extendin g across IOO the machine adjacent each horizontal series of operating-rods, spring-fingers projecting from the tumbling-shafts into the angle-slots of the pivoted plates; said tumbling-shafts being operated either independently by the independent operating-rods or collectively by the vertical rods; together with means for bringing the tumbling-shafts to their normal position, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

ll. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms arranged in vertical and horizontal series, of independent operating-rods for the registering mechanisms, rods operating the registering mechanisms of each vertical series, operating-rods for said vertical rods having cams engaging the same, pivoted plates adapted to engage the operating-rods and provided with angle-slots, tumbling-shafts extending across the machine adjacent each horizontal series of operatingrods, spring-lingers projecting from the tumbling-shafts into the angle-slots of the pivoted plates, rock-shafts extending parallel with the tumbling shafts, and arms projecting from the rock-shafts to operate the tumblingshafts and be operated by the vertical rods; said tumbling-shafts being operated either independently by the independent operatingrods or collectively by the vertical rods; ytogether with means for bringing the tumblingshafts to theirnormal position., substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

l2. In a voting-machine, the combination of a cabinet comprising a series of drawers divided into compartments, independent registering mechanisms located in said compartments, the front of the drawers being provided with sight-openings, removable slides extending across the front of the drawers to cover said sight-openings, and independent operating-rods for the registering mechanisms; together with pivoted plates adapted to engage said rods, tumbling-shafts extending across the rear ends of the drawers,and springfingers connecting the tumbling-shafts to the pivoted plates, the tumbling shafts being turned by the operating-rods, substantially as shown and, described.

13. In a voting-machine, the combination with the registering mechanisms and operating-rods therefor, of horizontal pins or points projecting from the rear ends of the operating-rods through the back of the cabinet or machine, a vertical hinged board having recesses on a line with said pins, a skeleton frame pivoted to the lower end of the vertical board, and springs projecting the upper or free end of said skeleton frame; together with a tally-sheet placed upon the skeleton frame, and a closed receptacle at the lower end of the cabinet, said receptacle having a slit in its upper end through which the tally-sheet may pass, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a voting-machine, the combination of a cabinet comprising a series of drawers, independent registering mechanisms located in said drawers, operating-rods for said mechanisms, pins or points projecting from the operating-rods through the rear ends of the drawers, a hinged board adapted to close against the rear ends of the drawers and provided with recesses on a line with the pins, a spring-projected frame connected to the inner side of said board, and atally-sheet placed between the frame and rear ends of the drawers of the cabinet; together with a closed receptacle at the lower end of the cabinet, said receptacle having a slit in its upper end through which the tally-sheet may pass, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

Iii-testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. VEIGAND.

Witnesses:

ANTE E. MUEHLENKAMP, L. KUHL. 

